Obituary of Jerome D. Conroy

We are heartbroken to announce the sudden passing of Jerome Conroy. Born to the late John and Patricia Conroy (Brady) and raised on Tipperary Hill, Jerry was a lifelong resident of Syracuse, an integral contributor to its close-knit community, and an avid SU sports fan. Countless lives were positively impacted by his 50+ year work history at Crouse Hospital and his volunteer efforts driving disabled veterans to appointments. 

The loss of Jerry Conroy has settled upon us with profound heaviness due to the depth of impact he had upon our lives. To know and be known by a soul as gentle and welcoming as him is such a rarity that one feels his passing with a sting and a sort of sorrow as uncommon as the life he led. 

Jerry’s warm smile and skill as a conversationalist turned total strangers into his friends with ease. He was known for knowing people everywhere he went. He placed high value upon treating others with dignity and being a good listener, which earned him countless loyal friendships through the years. Most of us recall hearing Jerry’s entertaining, detailed accounts of his travels or daily interactions…not necessarily because of exciting things he did or witnessed (though there was certainly no lack of those). Instead, his recollections were filled with the most interesting details he learned about the colorful lives of the people he met and found to be captivating. He had an uncanny knack for lifting out and appreciating the most meaningful of details from the stories of people’s lives because he was adept at asking sincere and heartfelt questions. His calming demeanor made us all feel safe and appreciated. One could always count on Jerry to acknowledge the momentous occasions of one’s life, whether that be sharing in times of celebration or grieving. His reliability made us love him all the more. 

It is both moving and motivating that he chose to invest his free time in driving disabled veterans to their appointments. He had compassion for their struggles and sacrifices and he made a decision to express his gratitude for their service in tangible ways. It brought him great satisfaction to accompany his brother Mike on his Honor Flight to the Vietnam Wall a few short months ago. Jerry went above and beyond to secure letters of appreciation for Mike from high school students, arranged for family members to greet Mike with banners of support at the airport, and even went so far as to secure a mayoral proclamation to bestow upon his brother. That’s the kind of man Jerry was. May we all build on his legacy of selflessness. 

Another trait of Jerry’s that made him so lovable was his insatiable appetite for enjoying life to the fullest. Whether that came from traveling with Anna or relaxing in their beautiful home and yard together, enjoying time with and being supportive of Mary and Peter, always giving his best at work, hitting the gym faithfully, doting on his new grandson, or being one of the most devoted SU sports fans of all time…whatever Jerry did, he did with gusto. One case in point was the time that he and a bus full of Tipp Hill guys were en route to cheer on the SU football team in The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. As they neared the stadium with kickoff time fast approaching, the bus found itself on a side street blocked by cars stuck in a traffic jam. This was unacceptable to Jerry, who instinctively directed his friends to disembark the bus at once. He then proceeded to rally the men to lift not one, but two vehicles and whisk them onto the sidewalk to create a bus lane. High fives and hoopla resounded as the bus arrived on time for kickoff, with Jerry named the SU Fan of the Day amongst his peers. 

His can-do attitude, tireless devotion to family and friends, and his quick wit tempered by his tender heart will be what keeps the memory of Jerry alive in our memories forever. He is deeply missed, but never forgotten. We love you Jerry. 

He is pre-deceased by son, Peter. He will be forever remembered for his gentleness, humor, generosity of spirit and devotion to family and friends by his daughter, Mary (Josh Nelson), loving wife of 42 years, Anna (Obuhanych), his siblings and their spouses; Michael, Dennis (Maureen), Jude, Margo (Roger), Mary Pat (Tom), Dan (Donna), John (Betsy), Tim (Renee), many nieces and nephews, and his grandson, Orion.

Calling hours are Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 from 4-7 at St. Patrick’s Church, 216 N. Lowell Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 at 10am at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please have donations made to St. Patrick’s Church or West End PBA Little League, 509 Hamilton St Syracuse, NY 13204.